What Ling Qingwan said made sense, and An Yi was not really unreasonable. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that she was being abrupt and had misunderstood Ling Qingwan.
Fortunately, Ling Qingwan didn't take it to heart, so the grudge was not created.
Ling Qingwan had been tortured by scheming people from her previous life to the present, so she was naturally happy to see An Yi's innocence. This was also what Ling Qingwan lacked but longed for.
She has been through so much, it is impossible for her to remain naive.
"Qiao'er, check the closet to see if there are any new clothes that I haven't worn yet. Take some out for the princess to change into." As soon as she entered the room, Ling Qingwan instructed Qiao'er.
Qiao'er agreed and went to the side room.
An Yi was bored, so she looked around and checked Ling Qingwan's room.
"I didn't expect that a girl like you who grew up in the countryside could be so elegant." An Yi couldn't help but sigh as she looked at the simple yet dignified interior decoration of Ling Qingwan's house.
"Apart from having seen less of the world, I think girls who grew up in the countryside are no different from city girls in other aspects." Ling Qingwan chuckled.
Many people said she was a country girl, but whether it was intentional or unintentional, Ling Qingwan knew it as soon as she heard it. She thought An Yi grew up under the love of her parents, and it was reasonable for her to not eat meat.
Besides, Ling Qingwan never thought that there was anything to be belittle or despised about a country girl.
"But you have never seen the fireworks in Tingxue Tower since you were a child, never eaten the Xiti tribute from Tubo, nor the emerald red date duck in Zuixiao Tower, and never lived in a big house. Don't you think it's a pity?" An Yi tilted her head and asked Ling Qingwan seriously.
"Have you ever seen fireflies deep in the jungle, or rape flowers all over the mountains? Newly grown spring bamboo shoots are delicious when braised or stir-fried. They may not be as exquisitely made as the Jade Red Date Duck at Zuixiaolou, but they each have their own flavor. It's rare to see a sky full of stars in Tokyo. Instead, I envy the mud houses in the countryside. Sitting in the open space in front of the door, I can look up and see the moon and stars."
Ling Qingwan was very patient and talked to An Yi about the countryside. An Yi was curious and yearning, and her eyes seemed to be shining.
"Then when will you take me to see it!" An Yi asked enthusiastically, pulling Ling Qingwan to ask.
Ling Qingwan couldn't help laughing.
She envied An Yi more and more. Only because she was spoiled since childhood and never experienced intrigue and deception could she be so innocent and pure.
"Miss, Princess." Qiao'er brought clothes and asked An Yi to change into them.
After changing, An Yi turned around in front of the mirror for a few times, and then she caught a tumbler on the bookshelf. The common tumblers were made in the image of an old man with a white beard, but Ling Qingwan's was a rabbit.
An Yi became interested, walked up to the bookcase and stuck her head out to look around.
"Do you like this tumbler?" Ling Qingwan noticed An Yi's thoughts, took it down herself, and handed it to An Yi to play with.
"This tumbler looks so cute." An Yi grinned, with dimples on both sides of her cheeks.
Ling Qingwan remembered that the tumbler was given by Wei Xun. For a while, Wei Xun and Song Zhiqing seemed to be at odds with each other, and the two tried their best to give Ling Qingwan gifts. They gave her nothing but gold, silver, and jade jewelry, which Ling Qingwan either gave away or sold for money. Only some rare items were left, which were still in her room.
One of them was this tumbler. Ling Qingwan always felt that Wei Xun must have bought it based on the appearance of Hongdou. But then she thought, why would Wei Xun be so attentive? It must be just a coincidence.
"If you like it, I'll give it to you." Ling Qingwan said to An Yi.
"Give it to me? Really?" An Yi was surprised, her eyes widened. She looked surprised, but she couldn't hide her joy.
"Anyway, I just put this tumbler on the cabinet and it's been gathering dust. If you like it, I might as well give it to you." Ling Qingwan explained, comforting An Yi to accept it with peace of mind.
An Yi was holding the tumbler and was so happy that she almost jumped up.
"By the way, I don't know what you are going to do in the Marquis' Mansion. Don't delay your business." Ling Qingwan suddenly remembered that An Yi was accidentally splashed with soup when she first entered the mansion, and until now, she has done nothing except talking to Ling Qingwan.
"I would have forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it." An Yi slapped her head. "I've been out there for more than half a year. I haven't been back to Tokyo for a long time. I missed it a little, so I asked Brother Ling Xiao to take me out to play."
"I went to him because they were all busy and couldn't spare the time."
An Yi hurriedly added, but it sounded as if she was trying to cover up something.
"My brother seems to be working with the Seventh Prince these past two days and is not in the mansion now." Ling Qingwan told An Yi. Ling Xiao was also very busy. She hadn't seen her brother for another five or six days.
"Ah?" An Yi suddenly looked sad. "What should I do? Am I supposed to play alone?"
"Where are you planning to go? The sun is out today and I want to go for a walk too. Why don't I go with you?" Ling Qingwan thought for a moment and suggested to An Yi.
The little girl has a good temper, and it's always more fun to hang out with her than to do it alone.
The two hit it off immediately and left the mansion hand in hand.
Dongjing City is the largest and most prosperous city in Da Yue. It would take at least a few days to visit it carefully. Ling Qingwan was locked up in the East Palace for most of her previous life, and she rarely went out in this life. Only with Tan Hongbo could she have fun. It just so happened that An Yi knew Dongjing City well. Rather than saying that Ling Qingwan was accompanying An Yi, it would be better to say that An Yi was taking her on a tour.
Before I knew it, the sky gradually darkened.
An Yi bought a lot of strange little things and let the maids take them all. However, she kept the tumbler that she got from Ling Qingwan in her arms.
"I'm so hungry." An Yi touched her stomach and looked up at the sky. "Let's go to Zuixiaolou for dinner. I'll treat you."
An Yi looked at Ling Qingwan.
"Have you been to the night market next to Zhuque Street?" Ling Qingwan asked An Yi.
"I seldom go there. My father and mother don't allow me to eat food from the stalls, for fear that I'll get an upset stomach." An Yi pouted, looking quite confused.
"Are you afraid?" Ling Qingwan asked again.
Since it was a rare opportunity to have fun, Ling Qingwan didn't want to think too much. But if she wanted to go to the night market, she had to ask An Yi's opinion.
An Yi nodded rapidly. Knowing that they were going to the night market, she was even more excited than Ling Qingwan and pulled Ling Qingwan into the crowd.
It was lunchtime, and the streets were bustling with people. The roadside was full of stalls, and the vendors were shouting their wares. An Yi was dazzled and wanted everything she saw. Before she was even halfway down the road, her stomach was already about 70% full.
"Ling'er, pay." An Yi took the hot chestnuts and squeezed out of the crowd.
She peeled a fresh one and stuffed it into Ling Qingwan's mouth.
Ling Qingwan was stunned.
"Is it sweet?" An Yi turned to Ling Qingwan with a smile.
"Sweet." Ling Qingwan nodded.
An Yi giggled and continued walking forward holding Ling Qingwan's arm.
Since that day, Ling Qingwan and An Yi have become very close. An Yi didn't have many close friends in Tokyo City, and now she goes to the Marquis' Mansion every few days.